Burnaby’s first truth and reconciliation crosswalk was installed Friday morning.
Designed by Salish artist Atheana Picha of the Kwantlen First Nation, the black and white design featuring two Thunderbirds now links Drummond’s Walk Urban Trail across Union Street in North Burnaby.
Its installation is the culmination of an idea first proposed by a Grade 6/7 class at nearby École Westridge Elementary School.
After studying the 94 Calls to Action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, the class decided to act on Call #82, which calls on communities to install a publicly accessible and highly visible monument to residential schools.
“We wanted something where people were able to look at it every day and really think of the meaning and the symbolism of what it was for,” student Mana Ahmadi told the NOW when the crosswalk design was unveiled in June.
The class’ crosswalk initiative received a $750 grant from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and $20,000 from the City of Burnaby.
With files from Lauren Vanderdeen.
Follow Cornelia Naylor on Twitter @CorNaylor
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